The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd), gender advocates, and governance experts on Friday underscored the need to advance women inclusion in governance to enhance nation-building.

They spoke during their separate remarks during the 2026 Inclusion and National Security Conference organised by the ITeach Africa Initiative and Empower Her for Governance Initiative, a non-profit organisation, in Abuja.

Mr Musa,​‌⁠​‍‍⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‌‍‍⁠‌‌​ represented by the Gender Adviser in the ministry, Lt.-Col. Nneka Olimma, lauded the programme initiative, saying it was imperative for women to play a key role in tackling security challenges.

According to him, terrorism, banditry, violent extremism, kidnapping, and cybercrime, among others, require a holistic approach to ensure lasting solution.

The minister, therefore, stressed the need for women to contribute their quota to tackle complex security challenges within the country.

He also said that such roles should be focused on projecting women as partners in finding solutions to insecurity, rather than as victims of its consequences.

Mr Musa said, “Women are not only affected by insecurity, women are also part of the solution. Therefore, women must listen before conflict escalates. 

“They must engage before grievances become violence. They must intervene before vulnerable people are recruited or exploited by criminals and extremist networks.”

The minister further stressed the need for increase in women representation during decision-making about security strategy to boost their contribution.

Mr Musa noted that their exclusion limited ideas in such regard, and urged women to be competent, discipline and professional to set targets.

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Esther Walson-Jack, represented by the Permanent-Secretary, Career Management Office of OHCSF, Nkiruka Jones-Nebo, said women’s participation in governance could strengthen  growth.

She added that women’s participation in governance was key to creating room for more women to progress through mentorship, leadership training and creation of safe spaces in society.

She said governance institutions should move beyond celebrating few successful women and instead establish structures that would enable more women to grow in the rank and file, and even lead organisations.

The Convener and Director-General, ITeach Africa Initiative and Empower Her for Governance Initiative, Alaibe-Elezieanya Ebimoboere, decried the persistent national insecurity.

According to her, kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, violent attacks and organised crime have impacted negatively on community residents, particularly vulnerable women.

She emphasised the need for the inclusion of women in decision-making on issues about national security as a means to fostering the early mechanisms in containing insecurity.

“A nation is safest when its people feel they have a stake in its peace, become a voice in its future and play role to ensure its survival, “ she said.

The event featured lectures on leadership, stability and the future of inclusive governance in Nigeria by a governance expert and founding Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (CentreLSD), Dr Otive Igbuzor.

There was also a lecture titled, “Inclusion as Security: The Niger Delta Model and its Imperative for Empowering Nigerian Women,” by Ndutimi Alaibe, the convener’s father. 

(NAN)